Time passed quickly until night fell.
After having a simple dinner with Gray, Naoki returned to his room, lying on the bed while looking at the black card in his hand.
The initial reason for coming to this parallel world was for a vacation, although he was immediately forced by Zelretch to help collect the Class Cards. But now that his task was almost complete, Naoki could finally rest peacefully.
"The past week has really been eventful..."
Nero, Vlov, Roa, Manaka, crossing parallel worlds, Class Cards... Although literally only Manaka's issues gave Naoki a headache, so many events happening in succession, the overly dense rhythm still made him feel a little tired.
It was like after painstakingly finishing five workdays in a week, before it was even quitting time, he was suddenly told he had to work overtime on the weekend.
Although getting paid was still annoying.
Fortunately, after this he had a long time to relax. In his memory, the Ainsworth Family wouldn't arrive until the summer vacation. Counting from now, it was at least another four months, enough for him to laze around.
Of course, if they came earlier, it wouldn't be a problem either.
'Speaking of which, it seems that before the Ainsworth Family arrives, the Clock Tower will send Bazett to seize the Direct Card due to a power struggle, right? But considering I'm here now... those elders shouldn't be that bold.'
At least before Bazett arrived, he would go to the Clock Tower to give a warning.
"Ugh... hmm~ sleep!"
Stretching his arms and legs vigorously, feeling the sour sensation spreading throughout his body, Naoki closed his eyes and fell asleep just like that.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
If nothing went wrong, Naoki should have slept soundly until morning, or waited for Gray to come wake him up.
However.
"Ah, good night, Your Majesty the King, you've finally come."
In the middle of a sea of flowers in his dream, sitting under a large tree whose petals were falling, Merlin smiled and waved.
Sitting beside her, Naoki sighed somewhat helplessly: "I'm tired and want to sleep. Can't you let me sleep soundly? I've been fighting too much lately and am almost exhausted."
"Eh? Really? I thought after going to a parallel world for three days, you would have rested well."
"Where was there time to rest? Old Man Jewel forcibly gave me the task of collecting Class Cards. I was busy until the early hours of the morning before I could sleep."
"Class Cards?" Merlin frowned, then suddenly understood, "Oh, so that's how it is."
"You know about Class Cards?"
"No, it's the first time I've heard of them, but since this is your own experience, I just read your memories." Merlin laughed, then came behind Naoki and placed both hands on his shoulders, gently massaging, "Truly tiring, Your Majesty the King, let me help you massage."
Massage?
Feeling the massage on his shoulders, Naoki unconsciously showed a wary expression: "What do you want?"
"Hmm? What do I want?"
"There's an ulterior motive. It's rare for you to take the initiative to help me relax? Are you planning to trick me again?"
Something was wrong.
Very wrong!
In all the years they had known each other, the number of times Merlin took the initiative to understand Naoki could be counted on one hand. Ninety-nine percent of her actions that showed kindness definitely hid a sinister plan!
Now she suddenly took the initiative to massage him to relax. If Merlin wasn't thinking of a bad idea, Naoki wouldn't believe it at all.
And seeing Naoki's wary reaction, Merlin immediately showed a very hurt expression, tears glistening in her eyes, sobbing softly as if greatly injured: "Hic... how could you say that... I do good things occasionally... hic hic hic... you're really heartless... Naoki doesn't understand human hearts!"
"..."
'Could this acting get any worse? Speaking of which, Merlin, you have no intention of acting at all. Are you really enjoying this role as a gentle girl?'
"Can you stop joking around? Merlin." Naoki sighed helplessly, "What exactly do you want by pulling me here? Was your existence as a magical consciousness entity to prevent Sajyou Manaka's dangerous actions? What triggered it now because..."
"No, that child is very obedient. Because she was previously forcibly silenced for no reason by that Moon Princess, she's now hiding in a corner muttering and crying." Merlin, who had just been crying, immediately put on a smile, "Want to see the live broadcast? I can connect to the soul realm to show you how embarrassing that child is, she's very cute, you know."
"No need, I think after seeing it, her hatred for me will only increase."
"It doesn't matter, you can make her helpless anyway. Even if she accidentally escapes, you can directly knock her unconscious with the Holy Sword and then drag her back to the basement to be locked up."
Merlin smiled slyly like a fox.
"But it is quite surprising that the sweet girl who gave Arthur and me a bit of a headache ended up in such a state. You're really amazing, Naoki."
"It's only because I have these Mystic Eyes." Rubbing his eyes, Naoki continued to ask, "Did you look for me just for this? If there's nothing else, I'll go back."
"Eeeh~~~ no no no, keep me company for a little longer~~~"
Merlin quickly grabbed Naoki's sleeve.
"Since that night, you've only spoken to me twice, one of which was just saying goodbye. We haven't even met directly once. Do you know what this is generally called?"
"More or less."
"If you know, sit here nicely, and then... let me lean on you for a bit."
As soon as Merlin finished speaking, she directly rested her head on Naoki's shoulder.
This sudden physical contact immediately stunned Naoki, or rather, made him somewhat confused.
'What's going on?'
What was Merlin planning? What other crazy idea was in her mind? She was so close, her body scent even pierced his nose.
"Your heartbeat, it's so fast." Merlin suddenly said, slightly looking up to meet Naoki's eyes, "Excited?"
"No."
"Liar."
Placing her hand on Naoki's chest, Merlin smiled: "My palm can feel it, you know, your heart is beating fast. Are you so excited because I'm leaning on you like this? Or... have you fallen in love with me?"
"Just to be sure, you're not planning to take a screenshot of my panicked expression in your brain and then use it to mock me later, are you?"
"Don't think so badly of me, this time I really have no bad intentions." Merlin pouted, "It's just... I miss you a little."
"Miss me?"
Naoki unconsciously felt somewhat surprised. He really never expected to hear those words from Merlin's mouth.
"You miss me because I left, so there's no one left for you to tease, right?"
"That is indeed undeniable. The few days after Your Majesty the King left felt uninspired, and as soon as I thought that Your Majesty the King would be away for five years with little Gray without returning, I worried that you might come back with some definite facts, for example, cute children who would call me Auntie—just kidding~~~"
Merlin's words at the end of her sentence immediately left Naoki speechless.
Seeing Naoki's expression, wanting to say something but unable to, and looking both angry and awkward, Merlin unconsciously chuckled: "Hehehe, this is much better. Although I can read memories to remember things in the past, watching them too often gets boring. This way is the best."
"You just came to tease me..."
"Yes." Merlin admitted frankly, "Who told me to be bored for three days? When you're in a parallel world, I can't see your condition at all. But this way is better. I'll send you back now so you can sleep soundly."
"Wait a minute."
Naoki quickly grabbed Merlin's arm, and then, amidst her surprised gaze, he directly leaned in and kissed her hard, gradually pushing her to the ground, little by little pressing her down beneath his body.
"Ugh~~~ ugh~~~ haah..."
After all the air in her mouth was stolen by Naoki, Merlin, whose face was slightly flushed, took two breaths, then glared at him with annoyance: "That's really outrageous, suddenly kissing me, and your technique is terrible."
"Casually pulling me here, after fulfilling your own desires then casually saying you want to send me away, who exactly is outrageous?" Naoki lowered his head to look at Merlin, "Besides, if you say my technique is bad, then teach me? What is called good technique."
"Wait a moment, let me rest for a bit—ugh!"
Seemed like she was a little less able to control herself—that was Merlin's only thought at this moment.